第三章 郭伋守信

During the Eastern Han Dynasty, there was an official named Guo Ji. He often traveled to various places to understand the lives of the common people.

Once, he went to Xihe on business. Before entering the city, he saw several hundred children standing by the roadside.

The children were riding toys made of bamboo. As soon as they saw Guo Ji's carriage, they ran over happily.

Guo Ji got out of the carriage and asked, "Why are you here?"

One child answered, "We heard you were coming, so we came specially to welcome you."

Guo Ji did not look down on them because they were children. He sincerely thanked the children and also asked about their family situations.

After finishing his business, Guo Ji prepared to go elsewhere. The children escorted him to outside the city.

When he was about to leave, a child asked, "When will you come back?"

Guo Ji thought for a moment and said, "On the twenty-fifth of this month, I will return here."

The children remembered this date.

The next matters went smoothly, faster than Guo Ji had expected. When he came back, he found that today was the twenty-fourth—one day earlier than the agreed date.

The people around him said, "Being one day early is not a bad thing. Let's enter the city today."

Another also said, "Those children probably forgot by now. Even if they remember to come and see you, they won't blame you."

Guo Ji shook his head and said, "The children asked me when I would return, because they wanted to wait for me on that day. If I enter the city today, they will come tomorrow and not see me. I promised them, so I should keep my word."

Someone advised him, "Is it necessary to wait an extra day outside the city for a few children?"

Guo Ji said, "Whether a person keeps his word does not depend on who the other party is. If you keep your word to important people but break it to children, then it is not true trustworthiness."

So Guo Ji did not enter the city. He stayed overnight in a small pavilion outside the city.

The next day, Guo Ji's convoy headed toward the city. From afar, he saw those children again standing by the roadside waiting for him.

The children ran over and said happily, "You really remembered our promise!"

Guo Ji smiled and said, "This is the date we agreed on. Since you remember, of course I should remember too."

No one asked him to wait an extra day outside the city. Arriving one day early would not be considered breaking his word. But he himself remembered: what he promised was the twenty-fifth, so it had to be the twenty-fifth.